Beccles Salvation Army’s Christmas gift appeal 

The Salvation Army in Beccles is calling on the local community to donate new toys to its Christmas present appeal that will support families in need over the festive season.

Every year, The Salvation Army meets hundreds of distressed parents facing the prospect of their children having nothing to open on Christmas Day. They are concerned that the cost of living crisis is likely to mean that even more families will be struggling to pay for the very basics over Christmas. 
 
Harry Woods, Salvation Army church leader in Beccles said: “Every year we ask people to donate new toys and gifts to our Christmas present appeal so we can distribute them to families whose children would otherwise not receive a gift. This year, we are expecting the number of families requesting help to rise as a result of the cost of living crisis.
 
“Please support our Christmas Present Appeal to help our drive to ensure that vulnerable children in the Beccles area will have something to open on Christmas Day. Last year, we supported around 70 families and helped over 140 children with toys and food hampers and already we’ve started receiving requests for support ahead of Christmas.”
 
The Beccles church will be collecting donations of new unwrapped toys on Saturday 2 December from 10am to 1pm. People wishing to donate can also drop off their contribution at Tesco, Nationwide or The Toy Box, all in Beccles. The Salvation Army will then sort and distribute the gifts to children and families in the area through their networks and via local groups and social services.
 
Suggested gift ideas include:

• 0-3 years: dolls, soft toys, cot mobiles, baby clothes, bath toys, CDs of suitable music and nursery rhymes, puzzles
• 3-5 years: dolls and action figures, cars, lorries, DVDs and CDs (music and nursery rhymes), colouring sets, pencils, crayons, books, puzzles
• 5-9 years: educational games & toys, stationery (colouring sets, pencils, crayons, school sets), CDs & family friendly DVDs, books, puzzle/wordsearch books
• 9-12 years: games and toys, stationery, DVDs, books, t-shirts, hair accessories, gloves, scarves, hats
• 13-16 years: books, make-up and toiletries (please try to ensure non-allergic ingredients if possible), gloves, scarves, hats, T-shirts, hair accessories and gift vouchers.

 
Harry said: “We also have our community carol service on Sunday 17 December at 6pm when our brass band will be playing. Please bring the children along as we’ve had a word with Father Christmas to see if he can pay us a visit! It will be a great festive occasion and we’d love to see you there.”
 
Beccles Church and Community Centre is at 68-72 Blyburgate, Beccles, NR34 9TQ.
Email address: beccles@salvationarmy.org.uk
 
For more information about the Christmas Present Appeal and ideas about gifts, visit: salvationarmy.org.uk/christmas-present-appeal

To help support The Salvation Army’s year-round work please visit: salvationarmy.org.uk/donate